Fixing a Leaky Toilet

Toilets have many rubber parts in the tank that wear out over time.
The most common is the "flapper" that regulates how much water goes down with each flush.
When a flapper is worn and can no longer maintain a good seal, it is time
to replace it. A bad flapper is often characterized by the sound of running water coming from the tank when nobody has
flushed the toilet. Fortunately, the part is cheap and the repair is simple.

Items needed:

New Flapper

Safety Suggestions and Tips

Be sure water to toilet is off
Wash your hands thoroughly after you are completed. This is a
dirty job.

Level of difficulty

Time Required:

15 minutes

Steps

Turn off water

Step 1:

Turn the water to the toilet off. There is normally a valve located behind the toilet
that takes care of this. After the water is off, flush the toilet.

Remove old flapper

Step 2:

Remove the old flapper from the fill tube. Some flappers have "ears" and some have an
adapter that goes around the fill tube. It is not uncommon for the old flapper to tear
as the become brittle after being in contact with water for so long. The replacement will
likely have both adapters. Next, disconnect the chain from the flapper to the handle.

Install new flapper

Step 3:

Install the new flapper. Most replacement parts available today have both of the adapters
included on one part. If your fill tube has the small prongs on it, you will likely (but not
always) have to clip out the fill tube adapter (the round ring) in order to properly install it.
If you need to use the fill tube adapter, carefully slide it down the tube.

Attach chain

Step 4:

Next you need to connect the chain from the new flapper to the handle. The chain should have
some slack in it but not so much that it might become trapped under the new part. Do not
forget to turn the water back on.